Sweetwater Tavern High Desert Imperial Stout

Courtesy hopscotch. Pours black, with a creamy tan head and prominent lacing. Aroma is cotton candy and roasted chocolate. Interesting smoky flavor, probably from the roasted malts. Wet, drippy chocolate bites the tongue hard. Definitely a feel of alcohol. Easy drinking, though.

Courtesy hopscotch. Black pour with a thin tan head. Aroma of mostly alcohol and slight burnt grain. Very light chocolate notes also. Thick palate. Mostly chocolately taste, alcoholic finish. MIld with the roastiness, not usually a big deal, but there’s a bunch of alcohol apparent, so it tends to overwhelm the rest of the beer.

Courtesy hopscotch. Growler. Pours jet black, with a small swirly light brown head. Smells a little musty, but had some good chocolate malt, a little roast, and an intriguing bubblegum scent as well. The flavor had a pretty sharp bite to it, and had an unfortunate metallicness to it that could have been from a leak in the growler. Still didnt take away too much from it, as it still had good chocolate flavors, and syrupy dark malts. The body ewas still strong on the palate. Good beer, might have had a growler leakage for some of the traits I got in it.

growler, 8 days old, and a big thanks to pantanap for inviting me over to sample the goodness. pours black with tan head. nose isn’t much but some alcohol piney hops, and roast. flavor is roasty, a bit charness, piney and gritty hops are harsh and bitter. an oily mouth feel. alcohol is well hidden. an interesting imperial stout for sure but it doesnt go down very smoothly.

growler thanks to kmweaver.....pours pretty close to black with a tan head that lingers on the edges for awhile.....aromas of chocolate malt and little of anything else. kind of weak in that regard....flavors of rich chocolate and a little charred roast. pretty sweet overall. creamy mouthfeel....very nice overall....might not have deserved a 17 overall but i think this competes well with warhead.

Had this at the tavern in Chantilly or wherever the heck it is, just off of 28. Dark brown, almost black, bit of tannish foam. Wonderful aroma of bourbon. Taste has a strong kick of alcohol but surprisingly this does not surpress the flavor any. Good taste of chocolate, caramel, and coffee. Wonderful finish. This is spectacular, I highly recommend it.

Tap at Centreville location last year....pours thick motor-oil black with 1-finger brown head. Aroma is chocolate, a little bourbon, some roastiness. Taste is chocolate, roasted coffee, some Expedition-like soy. Warming finish, can taste the alcohol a bit for very well masked for 11% ABV. Very full-bodied beer that’s a steal at $5/pint instead of $5/snifter like other brewpubs charge. $10/growler may be deal of the year. This one is right up there with the other top imperials.

12 oz bottle via Dickinsonbeer(thanks!).Pours a pitch black with a small brown head. Nose is chocolate and bourban. Taste starts sweet, then lots of chocolate, roast, soy, and licorice, with a piney finish/aftertaste. A bit of warmth in the finish. Body is medium/full, carbonation is medium. A very nice yet bold Imp Stout.